Machine rounded poles

dquest · July 20, 2024, 09:42:47 PM

Hi all,

Looking to see if there is a homeowner type setup to turn 4x4 poles into rounded poles. I'm in eastern Canada btw.

I have a lot of cedar that I can mill into 4x4 then turn into 10ft horse jump poles.

Is there a pto version or hydraulic setup for a tractor.

I can only find machine rounded poles online to purchase not a setup that I could make / buy.

Appreciate any info you can share.

Southside · July 20, 2024, 10:11:05 PM

The Lathemizer comes to mind.

dquest · July 20, 2024, 11:14:18 PM

That's not really what I'm looking for.
Looking for more of a system that would feed a pole into it and round it as it is pulled through.

I guess like a delimber that would size the diameter as well.

Southside · July 20, 2024, 11:20:02 PM

You are basically talking about a Rosser Head debarker, there is a pole plant not too far from here that uses a modified one to debark and shape telephone pole blanks. Not really PTO sized equipment.

TreefarmerNN · July 21, 2024, 06:40:13 AM

Quote from: dquest on July 20, 2024, 09:42:47 PMHi all,

Looking to see if there is a homeowner type setup to turn 4x4 poles into rounded poles. I'm in eastern Canada btw.

I have a lot of cedar that I can mill into 4x4 then turn into 10ft horse jump poles.

Is there a pto version or hydraulic setup for a tractor.

I can only find machine rounded poles online to purchase not a setup that I could make / buy.

Appreciate any info you can share.

Wood Mizer sells a set up to basically turn the cant multiple times until you end up with what you want. The only issue I see with making one is that you will need middle supports to prevent sag.

dquest · July 21, 2024, 07:32:42 AM

Quote from: Southside on July 20, 2024, 11:20:02 PMYou are basically talking about a Rosser Head debarker, there is a pole plant not too far from here that uses a modified one to debark and shape telephone pole blanks. Not really PTO sized equipment.

Thanks for the info. I can buy large amounts of 4" diameter. Hoping to make my own. Appreciate the starting point.

dquest · July 21, 2024, 07:34:17 AM

Quote from: TreefarmerNN on July 21, 2024, 06:40:13 AM
Quote from: dquest on July 20, 2024, 09:42:47 PMHi all,

Looking to see if there is a homeowner type setup to turn 4x4 poles into rounded poles. I'm in eastern Canada btw.

I have a lot of cedar that I can mill into 4x4 then turn into 10ft horse jump poles.

Is there a pto version or hydraulic setup for a tractor.

I can only find machine rounded poles online to purchase not a setup that I could make / buy.

Appreciate any info you can share.

Wood Mizer sells a set up to basically turn the cant multiple times until you end up with what you want. The only issue I see with making one is that you will need middle supports to prevent sag.

I saw that in an earlier post. Not quite what I'm looking for but thanks for the post.

doc henderson · July 21, 2024, 07:43:56 AM

If you watch some of the YouTube stuff, there are simple machines show. they are mostly in foreign countries and most likely have a learning curve (not OSHA approved).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXyqYnMuTc0

this is not what you can build at home, but I found it interesting. what length and what will be the use? what kind of volume? I have seen a video with a machine and hand rounding the post. Homemade stuff with lots of power can be a man killer so think about safety.

doc henderson · July 21, 2024, 08:19:26 AM

small scale you could use a router lathe. depends on your fab skill as to making the router automatically move along the log as it turns. I made a small scale one. like a sled but suspends a log so it can be turned. I would use it for a half dozen or so, not production.

doc henderson · July 21, 2024, 08:38:15 AM

her is a jig for small rounds stuff in the shop.

small scale. you could incorporate your pto to turn the poles. a knife type lathe would prob. flex the pole and it may get a death wobble and self-destruct. Might be able to use a gear reduced tarp motor to turn a log slowly and use a router. you could arrange a cable to pull the router motor along at a prescribed rate based on the rpms of the log and make it semiautomatic.

dougtrr2 · July 21, 2024, 10:41:43 AM

My thoughts tend toward a custom shaper cutter. Four passes through a shaper might be faster that a lathe.

Doug in SW IA

dquest · July 21, 2024, 01:47:20 PM

Quote from: doc henderson on July 21, 2024, 07:43:56 AMIf you watch some of the YouTube stuff, there are simple machines show. they are mostly in foreign countries and most likely have a learning curve (not OSHA approved).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXyqYnMuTc0

this is not what you can build at home, but I found it interesting. what length and what will be the use? what kind of volume? I have seen a video with a machine and hand rounding the post. Homemade stuff with lots of power can be a man killer so think about safety.

Thanks for the input and pics. I'm looking to make jump poles for horses. 10 to 12 ft long and 4" diameter. We have a tonne of cedar and paying 35 to 45 bucks a pole doesn't make sense to me.

dquest · July 21, 2024, 01:47:52 PM

Quote from: dougtrr2 on July 21, 2024, 10:41:43 AMMy thoughts tend toward a custom shaper cutter. Four passes through a shaper might be faster that a lathe.

Doug in SW IA

Thanks I'll look into that.

doc henderson · July 21, 2024, 03:55:31 PM

I think you may have mentioned it. but for that length a shaper sounds better than a lathe. how much to spend depends on how many you need to make. if you sell them, will there be liability? People with horses, tend to love horses.

Nebraska · July 21, 2024, 05:51:58 PM

Agreed.

Magicman · July 21, 2024, 06:06:43 PM

Quote from: dquest on July 21, 2024, 01:47:20 PMWe have a tonne of cedar and paying 35 to 45 bucks a pole doesn't make sense to me.

A 4X4 - 12' is 16bf, so about $2.5 per bf for a finished product is not out of line.

I would be looking for a 2" radius round over bit.

doc henderson · July 21, 2024, 08:58:56 PM

there are some in videos online that show a square going in and round coming out in one pass. top and bottom cutters, with rollers in and out. not sure how big they go.

SwampDonkey · July 22, 2024, 05:05:29 AM

Small local mill here turns round 6' long cedar posts. Don't know what he uses, I've bought his posts though. The posts follow the taper of the cedar as well, he's shoving debarked rounds into it, not squared wood.

Riwaka · July 22, 2024, 06:22:04 AM

Morbark post peeler. There are other versions, some are quite basic, tractor powered etc.

https://youtu.be/XLnFC9s2dTU?si=1OhX_hCeygTFQgiz

And posch with north american dealers.
https://www.posch.com/en/products/debarking/schaelprofi/

Riwaka · July 22, 2024, 07:53:09 AM

There are also a few chainsaw peeler type attahments, Might be one way of potentially meeting nurses. Bozeman etc

https://www.loghomestore.ca/product/log-wizard-debarking-chainsaw-attachment/

maineshops · July 22, 2024, 09:06:52 AM

Does a horse know the difference between square and round? Jus curious why round?

beenthere · July 22, 2024, 10:30:38 AM

Likely when a horse doesn't quite clear the pole during the jump, the square corners leave more of a mark.

Ed_K · July 22, 2024, 11:30:48 AM

Do you have a saw mill? I've seen jump poles that were 6 an 8 sided poles. if you have or can get a saw mill try that an see if the horse people would buy them.

GAB · July 22, 2024, 11:57:17 AM

It is nice that they are using a renewable material.
Why couldn't they use a 4" drainage pipe with no holes in it?
For longer lengths it may require glueing two pieces together.
GAB

Ljohnsaw · July 22, 2024, 05:30:03 PM

PVC would be too light. The rail should stay put if a horse just brushed it. The rails typically sit in a shallow curved cup on the standards.

Yes, round will be more kind when hit. Also, IMO, removing the corners reduces the weight significantly. Both for the horses sake and the grounds crew. I've seen plenty of octagonal rails.

I would make a jig to sit on the log bunks to hold one or more 4x4s at 45°. Make the Vs deep enough to touch the full 4" face of the 4x4. Clip the point, rotate and repeat without having to adjust the head height. If need be, a screw through the jig into each 4x4 to hold steady for the cut.